AGM Statement
July 16 2003 - 6:04AM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:6061N
Synergy Healthcare PLC
16 July 2003
Synergy Healthcare plc
AGM Statement
Stephen Wilson, Chairman of Synergy Heathcare plc, a leading provider of
healthcare support services, made the following statement at today's Annual
General Meeting:
"Trading in the current year has started well and the company is continuing to
perform ahead of expectations with increasing sales and margins. Healthtex have
been awarded two further contracts increasing the forward order book by #9m
whilst the surgical business is expected to sign a PFI agreement for its
surgical services extending the existing service for up to 37 years. As a
result of the additional contracts Synergy's order book will exceed #230m.
"In June, the Department of Health (DoH) announced its strategy for modernising
the provision of hospital decontamination services. As a result the traditional
NHS run sterilisation units will begin a phased transfer to the private sector."
"This is a substantial undertaking for the DoH and is expected to take place
over a five year period. At present, 475 hospitals in England and Wales are
serviced by 276 sterilisation units, each at an approximate cost of #750,000 per
annum. Tendering for the long-term contracts will proceed on a region by region
basis, with the tenders for nine hospitals in the Leeds, Bradford area already
being reviewed. In October this year the tender process for a second region
encompassing 25 hospitals, will commence.
"Synergy Healthcare is the UK market leader in the provision of sterile
services, operating twelve surgical sterlisation sites, all of which are MDA /
CE certified. The company has developed a reputation for the quality of its
services, particularly with the use of its sterile services management system
known as TrakStar. This summer the company established the UK's first training
college for developing staff skills in sterile services.
"The industry has worked closely with the DoH in the formulation of this
strategy, and we are clear about their commitment to this course and believe
that substantial opportunities present themselves to Synergy Healthcare. We
look forward to another exciting year ahead."
16 July 2003
ENQUIRIES:
Synergy Healthcare plc Tel: 01332 387 100
Dr Richard Steeves
Julia Wilson
College Hill Tel: 020 7457 2020
Nicholas Nelson/Corinna Dorward
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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